On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the inaugural Global Fashion Summit, the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) on Tuesday released a special edition of the Fashion CEO Agenda, a strategic resource aimed at guiding fashion organisations toward achieving a net positive industry by 2050.

In line with the 2024 theme of the Global Fashion Summit, ‘Unlocking the Next Level,’ this year’s Fashion CEO Agenda outlines five pivotal opportunities for fashion executives and the industry at large to create transformative impacts for both people and the planet.

Over the past 15 years since the Global Fashion Summit began in 2009, sustainability has shifted from a peripheral issue to a central focus in the fashion industry, driving significant advancements throughout the sector.

However, despite these strides, the rapid escalation of global warming and the exponential increase in clothing production demand urgent, unified action from fashion industry leaders.

The 2024 edition of the Fashion CEO Agenda aims to empower fashion leaders and the wider industry to embrace five key opportunities, including operationalising sustainability, redefining growth, activating consumers, prioritising people, and mobilising based on materiality, to unlock the next level of positive impact through a comprehensive understanding of interdependencies and system-wide solutions, the report said.

Drawing from the five priorities of the Fashion CEO Agenda—Respectful and Secure Work Environments, Better Wage Systems, Resource Stewardship, Smart Material Choices, and Circular Systems—this special edition highlighted five cross-cutting opportunities aimed at achieving the next level of progress on these priorities.

Tailored for fashion brands, retailers, and producers, this edition of the Fashion CEO Agenda diverged from previous editions by focusing on challenging norms, amplifying efforts, and serving as a crucial inflection point for the industry to foster positive outcomes for both society and the environment, it said.

Upholding the rights of workers, championing diversity and inclusivity, redefining success metrics, and reshaping growth paradigms are key to enabling profound transformation, the report mentioned.

Global Fashion Agenda CEO Federica Marchionni expressed that the Fashion CEO Agenda 2024 was intended to assist leaders in changing their perspectives, offering straightforward strategies to address challenges and ensure the longevity of their businesses and operations.

Marchionni stressed the importance of leaders collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, employing empathy, and adopting a values-centered approach that emphasized both planetary well-being and the welfare of individuals.

She emphasised that by doing so, businesses could strengthen their foundations and generate not just financial gains but also beneficial effects on the global community.

GFA has been a consistent force in the industry, convening industry pioneers, sharing tangible case studies, disseminating best practices, and highlighting practical tools through renowned events, impact programs, and thought leadership publications.

Global Fashion Agenda is a non-profit organisation that fosters industry collaboration on sustainability in fashion to drive positive impact.

With the vision of a net-positive fashion industry, it accelerates action by mobilising, inspiring, educating and influencing all stakeholders.